28. Elisabed

28

Elisabed

The wind tore at my hair as I trailed behind Finn and Marshall, my steps light and careful. They hadn’t noticed me following them yet, the shifting breezes masking my scent and their focus elsewhere. My heart pounded in my chest, and my grip on the hilt of my knife tightened. I wasn’t supposed to be here, disobeying direct orders, but I couldn’t just sit back and wait—not when I knew August had gone after my sister.

Every crunch of leaves beneath my boots sent a shiver of anxiety through me. What if I was too late? What if they found her first? Or worse—what if Raol was here?

“August!” Marshall’s voice cracked with urgency, and I froze mid-step.

I crept closer, staying low, and peeked past a cluster of trees. My stomach churned at the sight before me.

August stood amidst the carnage, his chest heaving, blood smeared across his arms and face. Raol was standing a few feet away. The air was thick with the acrid scent of blood and fury, and my legs locked in place, a primal fear clawing at my insides.

Raol.

His presence dragged me back to the trial, to the moment he smirked at me like I was nothing, to the raw hatred I felt when he threatened my sister. Now, he stood only a few paces from her—my sister, who had somehow become tangled in this mess.

Mily. She was so small, so fragile, clutching her satchel with trembling fingers. Her wide, tear-filled eyes darted between the two alphas, clearly overwhelmed and terrified.

“Mily,” I whispered, barely audible over the roaring wind.

Then she saw me. Her frightened gaze landed on mine, and for a moment, everything else disappeared.

“Elisabed!” she screamed, her voice high-pitched and frantic.

Before I could react, she started running toward me.

“No! Stop!” I shouted, my voice tearing from my throat, but it was too late.

Mily darted forward, straight into the space between August and Raol.

It all happened in an instant.

Raol lunged, his claws poised to grab her.

August, wild-eyed and lost in his bloodlust, swung his arm with terrifying force, his claws slicing through the air.

“Mily!”

I didn’t think. My legs moved on their own, faster than I’d ever thought possible. I reached her just as August’s claws descended.

Pain exploded across my shoulder, sharp and searing, as his claws raked into my flesh. The force of the blow sent me stumbling, but I managed to wrap my arms around Mily, shielding her with my body.

“Elisabed!” Marshall’s voice roared, but it was distant, drowned out by the pounding of my pulse in my ears.

Finn’s snarl followed, feral and enraged.

“You idiot!” he bellowed, slamming into August with enough force to knock him back.

I clung to Mily, trembling as the pain radiated through me. My vision blurred, but I refused to let her go. She sobbed against me, her tiny frame shaking uncontrollably.

“You hurt her!” Finn’s voice was venomous, filled with raw fury. He was on August in seconds, his fists flying. “She’s your mate, and you hurt her!”

August didn’t fight back. He just stood there, his expression dazed, as if only now realizing what he’d done.

“I—” His voice cracked, but Finn didn’t let him finish. Another punch landed, and blood spattered from August’s mouth.

“Enough!” Marshall’s voice boomed, cutting through the chaos like a whip.

He shoved between them, forcing Finn back. His eyes, usually calm and steady, burned with anger.

“Not now,” he growled. “We don’t have time for this.”

“Elisabed!” Marshall’s voice roared, but it was distant, drowned out by the pounding of my pulse in my ears.

Before I could get my bearings, I felt Mily wrenched from my arms.

“No!” I screamed, reaching out blindly, but Raol was already backing away, his hand gripping Mily’s wrist like a vise.

Mily thrashed in his grip, her small fists pounding against his arm, but it was no use. He was too strong, and she was so small. Her struggles only seemed to amuse him.

“Raol,” Marshall growled warningly.

“Don’t worry,” Raol said smugly. “I’ll make sure to train this one better than her whore of a sister.”

With that, he turned and disappeared into the trees, Mily’s terrified screams echoing behind him.

“No!” I screamed again, my voice breaking. I tried to run after them, but my legs gave out beneath me, the blood loss and pain too much to bear.

Marshall’s strong arms caught me before I hit the ground, his grip firm but gentle.

“She’s gone!” I screamed, the words ripping from my throat. “He took her!”

“We’ll get her back,” Marshall said steadily, examining my wound.

Finn paced behind him, his fists clenched, his jaw tight. “This is on you, August.”

“Stop it. Stop sniping at me and do something!” I shouted.

Marshall’s expression softened, and he placed a hand on my uninjured shoulder. “We will,” he said firmly. “But we need to get you home first. You’re bleeding too much.”

“I don’t care!” I hissed, trying to push him away. “We have to find her!”

“We will,” he repeated, his tone leaving no room for argument. “But you’re no good to her like this.”

Finn crouched beside me, his sharp features grim. “You’re lucky the cut wasn’t deeper,” he said. “You’ll heal, but not if you keep thrashing around like this.”

I wanted to argue, to fight, to scream—but my shoulder hurt so badly I could barely form coherent thoughts.

Marshall helped me to my feet, steadying me as I trembled. August stood a few paces away, his head bowed, his shoulders slumped. He looked...broken.

“Let’s go. Now,” Marshall said.

My body ached with every step back to the fortress, and I made my sister a silent promise.

I’ll come for you, Mily. I’ll save you from him, even if it kills me.